سَلِمَتْremained unharmed مِنْfrom شَوَائِبِtaints التَّكدِيرِclouding
سَلِمَتْ مِنْ شَوَائِبِ التَّكدِيرِ
أَعْيُنُeyes السَّيدِthe lord الهُمَامِthe valiant الأَمِيرِthe emir
أَعْيُنُ السَّيدِ الهُمَامِ الأَمِيرِ
Safe from the taints of clouding
The eyes of the noble prince are clear of troubling sorrows,
are the eyes of the valiant lord, the emir.
Though a passing cloud has shaded their light.
مَاnot عَرَاهَاbefell them أَذىًharm وَلَكِنْbut تَغَشَّىveiled
مَا عَرَاهَا أَذىً وَلَكِنْ تَغَشَّى
عَارِضٌa passing cloud دُونهَاbefore them جَلاءَbrilliance النُّورِthe light
عَارِضٌ دُونهَا جَلاءَ النُّورِ
No harm befell them; rather, what veiled
A fleeting veil, moving on,
the light's brilliance before them was a passing cloud.
Has dimmed their usual radiance for a time.
طَيْفُa phantom غَادٍgoing forth مِنَfrom السَّحابِthe clouds موَلٍّdeparting
طَيْفُ غَادٍ مِنَ السَّحابِ موَلٍّ
شَابَmarred فِيin سَيْرِهِits passage صَفَاءَclarity غَدِيرِa pool
شَابَ فِي سَيْرِهِ صَفَاءَ غَدِيرِ
A passing phantom of a departing cloud
The shadow of a star's passing
marred, in its passage, the clarity of a pool.
Has clouded its brightness at its zenith.
ظِلُّa shadow جِرْمٍa body قَدْalready مَرَّpassed فِيin سَمْتِthe direction of نَجْمٍa star
ظِلُّ جِرْمٍ قَدْ مَرَّ فِي سَمْتِ نَجْمٍ
فَحَمَىand so shielded نُورَهُits light أَوَانat the time of المُرُورِthe passage
فَحَمَى نُورَهُ أَوَان المُرُورِ
The shadow of a body that passed across a star's path
Can serenity suffer any real harm
shielded its light at the moment of passage.
From a transient mist that comes between?
هَلْis there? عَلىfor سَالِمِsound النَّوَاظِرِeyes بَأسٌharm
هَلْ عَلى سَالِمِ النَّوَاظِرِ بَأسٌ
مِنْfrom غِشَاءٍa veil يَكونexists فِيin المَنْظورِwhat is seen
مِنْ غِشَاءٍ يَكون فِي المَنْظورِ
Can harm befall one whose eyes are sound
May God preserve your dear eyes
from a veil that lies in what is seen?
And guard them from all impending ills,
حَفِظَmay preserve اللّهُGod مُقْلَتيْكَyour two eyes وَأَقْصَىand banish
حَفِظَ اللّهُ مُقْلَتيْكَ وَأَقْصَى
عَنْهُمَاfrom them كُلَّevery طَارِيءٍsudden affliction مَحْذُورِdreaded
عَنْهُمَا كُلَّ طَارِيءٍ مَحْذُورِ
May God guard your two eyes and banish
For if they are lowered, it is but merciful restraint
from them every dreaded affliction.
Of self and virtue, nothing less.
وَلَئِنْand if indeed أَغْضَتَاthey closed their lids فَعَادَةُthen a habit of صَفْحٍforbearance
وَلَئِنْ أَغْضَتَا فَعَادَةُ صَفْحٍ
فِيهِمَاin them عَنfrom عَفَافِchastity نَفسٍa soul وَخِيرِand goodness
فِيهِمَا عَن عَفَافِ نَفسٍ وَخِيرِ
And if they close, it is a habit of forbearance
And if they seem clouded, it is but
within them, born of a soul's chastity and goodness.
What they have shielded from your generous hands.
وَلئِنْand if indeed غُصَّتاthey choked فذَلكthen that مِمَّاfrom what
وَلئِنْ غُصَّتا فذَلك مِمَّا
غَضَّتاthey looked away عَنْfrom نَدَىbounty يَدَيْكَyour two hands الكَثِيرِabundant
غَضَّتا عَنْ نَدَى يَدَيْكَ الكَثِيرِ
And if they choke with tears, that comes from what
A nobility that surpasses generosity, made perfect
they overlooked of your hands' abundant bounty.
By the hand of destiny.
شِيمَةٌa virtue جَازَتِsurpassed السَّماحَةَgenerosity فَضْلاin merit
شِيمَةٌ جَازَتِ السَّماحَةَ فَضْلا
فاسْتَتَمَّتand so became complete عَلىat يَدِthe hand of المَقْدُورِfate
فاسْتَتَمَّت عَلى يَدِ المَقْدُورِ
A virtue that surpassed generosity in merit,
With a spirit accepting of trials
and was perfected at the hand of fate,
And a heart thankful in suffering.
بِضَمِيرٍwith a conscience عَلىamid البَلاءِaffliction نَقِيٍّpure
بِضَمِيرٍ عَلى البَلاءِ نَقِيٍّ
وَفُؤَادِand a heart عَلىamid المُصَابِcalamity شَكُورِgrateful
وَفُؤَادِ عَلى المُصَابِ شَكُورِ
with a conscience pure amid affliction
No being but is tried by fate one day,
and a heart grateful amid calamity.
Though great events seem trivial.
كُلُّevery خُلْقٍcharacter مَاnot رَاضَهُtempered it الدَّهرُtime يوْماًever
كُلُّ خُلْقٍ مَا رَاضَهُ الدَّهرُ يوْماً
بِكِبَارِthrough great الصُّرُوفِvicissitudes غَيْرُnot كَبِيرِgreat
بِكِبَارِ الصُّرُوفِ غَيْرُ كَبِيرِ
Every character that time has not once tempered
So trouble cannot banish
through great vicissitudes is not great.
Tenderness from a valiant heart.
هَكَذَاthus البَأْسُvalor إِنَّماsimply لَيْسَdoes not يَنفِيbanish
هَكَذَا البَأْسُ إِنَّما لَيْسَ يَنفِي
مِنْfrom فُؤَادِthe heart of الشُّجاعthe brave man لُطْفَtenderness الشُّعُورِfeeling
مِنْ فُؤَادِ الشُّجاع لُطْفَ الشُّعُورِ
Thus valor simply does not banish
Between grief and solace you have
from the brave man's heart the tenderness of feeling.
A noble balance and wise patience.
لَكَyou have بَيْنَbetween الأَسَىgrief وَبَيْنَand between التَّأسِّيconsolation
لَكَ بَيْنَ الأَسَى وَبَيْنَ التَّأسِّي
ثُكلُbereavement وَافٍa loyal man وَرُشْدُand sound judgment هَادٍa guide صَبْورِpatient
ثُكلُ وَافٍ وَرُشْدُ هَادٍ صَبْورِ
Between grief and consolation, you possess
Sometimes grief prevails and is endured,
a loyal man's bereavement and a patient guide's wisdom.
For sorrows small and great are equal.
سَاعَةًat times يَغْلُبُprevails التَّأسِّيconsolation فَتُلْفَىand so you are found
سَاعَةً يَغْلُبُ التَّأسِّي فَتُلْفَى
وَجَلِيلُand the great الأُمُورِmatters مِثْلُlike الصَّغيرِthe small
وَجَلِيلُ الأُمُورِ مِثْلُ الصَّغيرِ
At times consolation prevails, and you are found
And sometimes you grieve in remembrance until
with great matters like small ones.
Tears soften even unyielding rocks.
وَأَوَاناًand at times تَأْسَىyou grieve عَلىover الذِّكْرِremembrance حَتَّىuntil
وَأَوَاناً تَأْسَى عَلى الذِّكْرِ حَتَّى
لَيُلِينُsurely softens البُكَاءُweeping صُمَّunyielding الصخُورِthe rocks
لَيُلِينُ البُكَاءُ صُمَّ الصخُورِ
And at times you grieve over the memory, until
When I see you burning with love
weeping truly softens unyielding rocks.
For one so newly gone, one so young,
فَلَقَدْfor indeed أَلْتَقِيكَI meet you تُلهَبُyou are set aflame شَوْقاًwith longing
فَلَقَدْ أَلْتَقِيكَ تُلهَبُ شَوْقاً
لِفَقِيدٍfor one departed غَضِّtender الشَّبابِyouth نَضِيرِradiant
لِفَقِيدٍ غَضِّ الشَّبابِ نَضِيرِ
For indeed I meet you, aflame with longing
I see in your downcast eyes
for one departed, tender in youth and radiant.
Signs of wakefulness and reflection.
فَإِذَاthen behold مِنْكَof you فِيin غُضُونِthe furrows of المُحَيَّاthe face
فَإِذَا مِنْكَ فِي غُضُونِ المُحَيَّا
مَلْمَحٌa trace لِلسُّهادِof sleeplessness وَالتَّفكِيرِand reflection
مَلْمَحٌ لِلسُّهادِ وَالتَّفكِيرِ
And behold, in the furrows of your face,
And in your face, his image still,
a trace of sleeplessness and reflection.
Clear as crystal in the brow.
وَإِذَاand behold مِنْكَof you رَسْمُthe image of ذَاكَthat المُفَدَّىthe cherished one
وَإِذَا مِنْكَ رَسْمُ ذَاكَ المُفَدَّى
فِيon جَبِينٍa brow يَشِفُّis translucent كَالْبَلُّورِlike crystal
فِي جَبِينٍ يَشِفُّ كَالْبَلُّورِ
And behold, in you, the image of that cherished one
He seems to gaze from that spirit world
on a brow translucent as crystal.
As a bright distant star gazes down.
يَتَرَاءَىappears مِنْfrom عَالَمِthe realm of الغَيْبِthe unseen فِيهِwithin it
يَتَرَاءَى مِنْ عَالَمِ الغَيْبِ فِيهِ
كَتَرَائِيlike the appearance of النَّجْمِthe star البَعِيدِdistant المُنِيرِshining
كَتَرَائِي النَّجْمِ البَعِيدِ المُنِيرِ
He appears within it from the realm of the unseen
And I see in your eyes a far-off look
as a distant, shining star comes into view.
That stretches to the end of time.
وَأَرَىand I see فِيin العُيُونِthe eyes مِنْكَof you لِحَاظاًglances
وَأَرَى فِي العُيُونِ مِنْكَ لِحَاظاً
تَتَرَامَىreach afar إِلىtoward خَوَالِيbygone الدُّهُورِages
تَتَرَامَى إِلى خَوَالِي الدُّهُورِ
And in your eyes I see glances
Pursuing him there, intent upon him still,
reaching into ages long gone,
The worst of fates, to lose the past.
لاحِقَاتٍfollowing بِهِafter him حِرَاصاًanxiously caring عَلَيْهِfor him
لاحِقَاتٍ بِهِ حِرَاصاً عَلَيْهِ
وَسُلُوُّand forgetting المَاضِينَthe departed شَرُّthe worst of القُبُورِgraves
وَسُلُوُّ المَاضِينَ شَرُّ القُبُورِ
following him, anxious for him—
I see tears flowing hot with grief
and forgetting the departed is the worst of graves.
From a heart wounded and mournful.
وَأَرَىand I see أَدْمُعاًtears تَسيلُflow حِرَاراًhot
وَأَرَى أَدْمُعاً تَسيلُ حِرَاراً
مِنْfrom فُؤَادٍa heart مُكَلَّمٍwounded مَحُرُورِburning
مِنْ فُؤَادٍ مُكَلَّمٍ مَحُرُورِ
And I see hot tears flowing
Like streams bursting with the melting snows
from a wounded, burning heart,
That pour from mountain heights.
كَمِياَهِlike waters العُيُونِthe springs تَجْرِيflow بِذَوْبٍwith the melt
كَمِياَهِ العُيُونِ تَجْرِي بِذَوْبٍ
مِنْfrom مَشِيبِthe gray hair of الجِبَالِthe mountains مِلْءَfilling النُّهُورِthe rivers
مِنْ مَشِيبِ الجِبَالِ مِلْءَ النُّهُورِ
like waters of springs, flowing with the melt
The flowing tears and springs are equal in purity
of the mountains' gray hair, filling the rivers.
Except that grief's waters are bitter.
يَسْتَوِيare alike الجَارِيَانِthe two streams بِالصَّفْوِin clarity إِلاَّexcept
يَسْتَوِي الجَارِيَانِ بِالصَّفْوِ إِلاَّ
أَنَّthat مَاءَthe water of الدَّمُوعِtears غَيْرُnot قَريرِcool
أَنَّ مَاءَ الدَّمُوعِ غَيْرُ قَريرِ
The two streams are equally clear, except
Enough, O Muhammad, your eyes have wept enough,
that the water of tears is not cool.
O exhausted by these copious tears.
حَسْبُenough for جَفْنيْكyour two eyelids يَاO مُحَمَّدُMuhammad جُوداًin generosity
حَسْبُ جَفْنيْك يَا مُحَمَّدُ جُوداً
تَعِبَاًthey grew weary مِنْfrom هَذَاthis البُكاءِweeping الغَزِيرِabundant
تَعِبَاً مِنْ هَذَا البُكاءِ الغَزِيرِ
Enough of your eyelids' bounty, O Muhammad;
Can you weep when you are granted such knowledge
they have grown weary from this abundant weeping.
Of the Giver's grace and the Powerful's decree?
أَفتبْكِيdo you then weep? وَأَنْتَwhile you أَوْسَعُbroader عِلْمَاًin knowledge
أَفتبْكِي وَأَنْتَ أَوْسَعُ عِلْمَاً
بِسَمَاحِof the generosity of المُعْطِيthe Giver وَسَلْبِand the taking away of القَدِيرِthe Almighty
بِسَمَاحِ المُعْطِي وَسَلْبِ القَدِيرِ
Do you then weep, though you have fuller knowledge
Can you weep when your son is comfort enough,
of the Giver's generosity and the Almighty's taking away?
When children throng about you?
أَفَتَبْكِيdo you then weep? وَإِنَّand indeed نَجْلَكyour son يُغْنِيsuffices
أَفَتَبْكِي وَإِنَّ نَجْلَك يُغْنِي
مِنْamong كِرَامِnoble البَنِينِsons عَنْin place of جُمْهُورِa multitude
مِنْ كِرَامِ البَنِينِ عَنْ جُمْهُورِ
Do you then weep, though your son suffices
Can you weep when the departed one
in place of a multitude of noble sons?
Now dwells blissful amid the maidens of paradise?
أَفتبْكِيdo you then weep? وَمِنْand among بَنِيكyour sons وَفِيرٌmany
أَفتبْكِي وَمِنْ بَنِيك وَفِيرٌ
هُمْthey بنُوsons of ذلِكthat النَّوَالِbounty الوَفِيرِabundant
هُمْ بنُو ذلِك النَّوَالِ الوَفِيرِ
Do you then weep, when many among your sons
Forever alive in your heart and mind,
are children of that abundant bounty?
Fixed in conscience and in spirit.
أَفتبْكِيdo you then weep? وَمَنْand the one whom جزِعْتَyou grieved عَلَيْهِover him
أَفتبْكِي وَمَنْ جزِعْتَ عَلَيْهِ
نَاعِمٌenjoying bliss فِيin الجِنانِthe gardens of Paradise بَيْنَamong الحُورِthe houris
نَاعِمٌ فِي الجِنانِ بَيْنَ الحُورِ
Do you then weep, when the one you mourn
Fulfilled by your enduring devotion,
enjoys bliss in the gardens of Paradise among the houris,
Carried far on departing steeds.
خالِدُimmortal الذِّكْرِremembrance فِيin فُؤَادِكَyour heart حَيٌّalive
خالِدُ الذِّكْرِ فِي فُؤَادِكَ حَيٌّ
ثَابِتُfixed الرسْمِthe image فِيin النُّهَىthe intellect وَالضَّمِيرِand the conscience
ثَابِتُ الرسْمِ فِي النُّهَى وَالضَّمِيرِ
immortal in remembrance, alive in your heart,
These tears cannot alter
his image fixed in mind and conscience,
What is foreordained and precisely measured.
نَائِلٌreceiving مِنْfrom جَمِيلِbeautiful وُدِّكَyour love أَوْفىthe fullest
نَائِلٌ مِنْ جَمِيلِ وُدِّكَ أَوْفى
بِرِّdevotion بَاقٍone who remains بِرَاحِلٍto one departed مَبْرُورِhonored with kindness
بِرِّ بَاقٍ بِرَاحِلٍ مَبْرُورِ
receiving from your beautiful love the fullest
But Allah willed goodness to be fruitful
devotion of one who remains to one departed and cherished?
So he watered it with their pure flow.
مَاwhat تُرَىI wonder هَذِهِthese المَدَامِعُtears تُغْنِيavail
مَا تُرَى هَذِهِ المَدَامِعُ تُغْنِي
مِنْagainst قَضَاءٍa decree مُحَتَّمirrevocable التَّقدٍيرِthe ordainment
مِنْ قَضَاءٍ مُحَتَّم التَّقدٍيرِ
What, I wonder, can these tears avail
against an irrevocably ordained decree?
لَكِنِbut اللّهُGod شَاءَwilled لِلبِرِّfor devotion خِصْباًfertility
لَكِنِ اللّهُ شَاءَ لِلبِرِّ خِصْباً
فَسَقَاهُso He watered it مِنْwith مَائِهِنَّtheir water الطَّهورِpurifying
فَسَقَاهُ مِنْ مَائِهِنَّ الطَّهورِ
But God willed that devotion should flourish,
so He watered it with their purifying water.
Partial English translation: 62 of 66 Arabic lines translated.